Hi Will, thanks for the kind words. Handlaying can be very rewarding but also as has been said it can be alot of work depending on what you wish to accomplish. As you saw I am handlaying everything with tie plates,fish plates and 4 spikes per tie....alot of work?...You bet, but it is giving me the final look I am after and is well worth the time and effort for me. When I was trying to decide on what to do (hand lay or not) I got tons of great advise and suggestions from so many people here on the forum and it was worth it's weight in gold. You mentioned Goingoscales videos (Christopher N&W) and I agree, his layout is spectacular and his attention to detail is top shelf stuff...he is using Atlas track on top of California Roadbed. Now with regards to your questions about handlaying...and these are just my own thoughts and experiences thus far.
Is it hard? Well at first it may be as you try and figure out your own style or rhythm to it and then it will get easier and quicker as you go and you find your own system that works for you.
Should you use jigs? That is ultimately something you will have to decide, as you know they are out there and do work well, but I would say you can make your own as Stephen has done. You can make them for the curves as well, just figure out what radius your curves will be and use some plywood cut to that radius, that will help you maintain the radius and tie spacing ect... and it will work just as well and save you $$$. I personally don't use them because I do not want a perfectly groomed look, in watching gobbs of footage from the steam days I noticed the ties were rougher in appearance and placement and that's the look I am after.
What kind of tools do you need? Track gauges...several of them. I like the 3 point gauges and I have some NMRA gauges as well. I use spiking pliers..they hold the spike well, some use regular needle nose pliers...it just depends on what you prefer. I also like having a Dremel tool for cuts and tweaking things. Also a way to sand down your ties, either sand paper on a 2x4 or some use a belt sander...you definetly want your ties level.
